Sports

DAVID Tubridy is no stranger to Man of the Match awards, but his 1-8 haul against Cork on Sunday was certainly distinctive for crowning the Doonbeg and Clare star as the National Football League’s all-time top scorer, reports Eoin Brennan. Trailing Sligo’s first All-Star Mickey Kearins (1971) by just two points heading into Sunday’s tie, Tubridy is now in a league of his own with a remarkable total of 22-412 or 478 points in just 13 seasons. Complements of Padraig Ferguson of ‘GAA lore’ who trawled through the archives of ‘The Irish Independent’ from 1925 onwards, the top ten also includes Mattie Forde (Wexford) with 386, Steven McDonnell (Armagh, 381), Meath’s Brian Stafford (373) and Tubridy’s former manager Mick O’Dwyer (Kerry, 370). “It is [a fair achievement],” admitted Tubridy upon hearing the news at the final whistle in Cusack Park on Sunday. “I didn’t know that now. I don’t keep track, but it’s great that I have that I suppose. …

National Football League Division 2 South Round 3 Cork 0-22 Clare 1-18 CLARE enjoyed the rarified air of being victorious in defeat this afternoon after securing a National Football League Division 2 Semi-Final spot on score difference over opponents Cork in Cusack Park, reports Eoin Brennan. Level entering the final minute of additional time, Cork dug deep to obtain a last gasp winning point through John O’Rourke but ultimately it needed to be a goal if the Rebels were to leapfrog their hosts in the table after Clare, Cork and Kildare all finished on four points in the group standings. Essentially, Cork required a three point victory to prevent Clare from setting up a penultimate stage clash with Mayo for a place in Division 1 for 2022. It also meant that Clare’s Division 2 status was secured for a fifth consecutive season whereas last year’s Division 3 champions Cork will have to beat Westmeath to avoid dropping immediately back down …

Ladies National Football League Division 2A round 2 Kerry 4-13 Clare 3-11 CLARE, following a shaky one point win over Wexford last weekend, travelled to Kerry in Round 2 of the league and gave one of the better performances of recent seasons despite going under by five points in the end against a competent Kerry outfit, reports Michael O’Connor. The opening minute had the Clare entourage fearing a whitewash as the visitors to Austin Stack Park were down (1-1) with not even 90 seconds played with Hannah O Donoghue grabbing the Kerry goal. The water break in the first half appeared to kill the Clare momentum after positive responses from Aisling Reidy, Lizzy Roche, Fidelma Marrinan and Cliona Blake. Strong words from the Kerry management saw Clare under the cosh at the resumption with Louise Galvin and Megan O’Connor on target to send Kerry four clear. Clare managed to stem this scoring spree but were unable to get on the …

Kerry v Clare at Austin Stack Park Tralee, Sunday 2pm (Austin O’Connell, Galway) After showing plenty of character and teeth in a battling opening victory over Wexford, the tests get decidedly steeper over the next two Sundays. Victory over either Kerry or Meath would be sufficient to earn a place in the Division 2 Semi-Finals. However, with both remaining group games being against senior opposition on away soil, any positive result will be viewed as a bonus to the priorities of performance and unearthing new players for the All-ireland Intermediate series which commence in mid-July. First up are a Kerry side that have their sights set on finally breaking back into the top four in the country. The joint All-Ireland senior Championship roll of honour leaders with neighbours Cork haven’t been in the winners enclosure since 1993 but have consistently reached the business end over the past two decades. A spine of Aislinn Desmond, Lorraine Scanlon, Anna Galvin and Louise …

Clare v Cork at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 1.45pm (Derek O’Mahoney, Tipperary) An unprecedented start of back-to-back opening victories have placed Clare on the verge of the Division 2 Semi-Finals. With a foot and a half in the knock-out stages, it would have to take an extraordinary series of results to deny Colm Collins’ men from facing either Meath or Mayo in the last four. However, if Division 2 has taught us anything over the past five seasons, it’s to expect the unexpected and therefore Clare will need to maintain their current impetus against Munster rivals Cork who crave victory equally as much. With all four teams involved in either promotion or relegation play-offs after this weekend’s final round, the Rebels are most in danger of becoming embroiled in the nervy demotion series that would halt their rebuilding process. After all, following recent All-Ireland Minor and Under 20 titles, last year’s Munster Senior Final appearance after dethroning kingpins Kerry along …

National Camogie League Division 3 Round 3 Carlow v Clare at Netwatch Training Centre Fenagh, Saturday 2pm Clare’s aim is simple when embarking on the five hour round trip to Fenagh on Saturday. There’s no need for calculators as it’s do-or-die for the visitors that will only be sated by a victory in order to advance to the Division 3 Semi-Finals. Having consistently reached that lofty stage since taking over four years ago, joint-managers Ann-Marie McGann and Tim McGrath are arguably facing their toughest test to maintain that record against intermediate side Carlow. Of course, Carlow last overcame Clare in the 2014 All-Ireland Junior Championship Semi-Final on their way to national glory. It would provide the catalyst to subsequently soar to an All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship and National League Division 3 double twelve months later, but any further momentum hasn’t materialised as the Leinster side were relegated back to the third league tier for 2020. Perennial top-scorer Ciara Quirke and …

CLARE GAA has backed senior hurling manager Brian Lohan over his comments about how two Clare players were deemed close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases. The issue arose after two Wexford hurlers that played against Clare were confirmed as having contracted the virus, and two Clare players were later deemed close contacts. Lohan’s queries over how they were identified prompted an angry response from Wexford. The county board this Tuesday stated, “The HSE designated the Clare players as close contacts which is their function and was never disputed. The issue is how they were identified as close contacts. “The HSE in the Mid-West region were informed by the contact tracing team in relation to the decision that was made. Brian Lohan as manager of the Clare Team contacted the HSE locally when he was informed of the identification of two senior hurlers as close contacts. “The HSE informed Brian Lohan that two players were identified on foot of discussions between …

DESPITE returning negative Covid tests, two Clare hurlers will continue to self-isolate and step back from training. In a statement, Clare GAA confirmed it had asked the two players who were deemed close contacts last week after the Wexford game to “step back from training and game activity once they were named”. The players, as a consequence, had to isolate for the intervening 10 days from notification. “Following voluntary testing of the two nominated Clare players they were deemed to be negative but will still be isolating,” the statement said. “At all times Clare GAA teams adhere to the guidelines laid down by the HSE and the governing body of our sport. Clare GAA will take on board at all times the advice and support provided by the health authorities. “Clare GAA will endeavour to ensure the strictest management of health and safety during Covid and non-Covid times for all Clare GAA teams and request that the clubs of the …